17th Jult 1892 - Black and white Garden party

Mister Foxwoods birthday, Suki wasn't sure if the invite was from Poppy and her a mother, or from the Foxwoods.  Either was interesting, but she was aware from Poppy that it was in fact Mister Foxwoods birthday, a phrasing that was conspicuous by it's absence from the invitation.  So instead of the expected gift for the gentleman of the hour, it seemed more appropriate to get something for Merlin - so a fine selection of curated owl treats for Merlin, ones that Sakura especially liked from Osaka, and a pillow of Japanese silk, motiffed with little owls, again from a designer in Osaka who made items for especially pampered owls.

The gardens were lovely, the day fine and beautiful, the perfect day for a garden party.  The giant wizard chess board was calling her.  She stepped up to claim the white side of the board, unsure who was up next for a game.

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DRESS

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   Atticus Foxwood, Basil Foxwood

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Gin made something stunning

Atticus had been waiting all day for someone to sit at the giant chess boards; he couldn’t con Anthony into playing with him - while his dear cousin was better at croquet, he was better at chess. Poppy had wandered off to see some of her friends, and Basil… Well, they weren’t on speaking terms at the moment. So when Miss Mountbatton sat on the white side of the board, he couldn’t help the grin that spread across his lips. He took long, deliberate strides across the lawn before he slid into the seat on the black side.

“Good afternoon Miss Mountbatton,” He greeted as he nodded his head. He was excited. Atticus loved to play the game, and she seemed like she would be a formidable opponent. “I do hope you’re not going to be a sore loser.” He couldn’t help the tease that followed.

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@"Natsuko Mountbatton"

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To say that she was pleased that Mister Foxwood had chosen to join her would be an understatement. Having enjoyed their interactions to date, and of course, the amiable friendship of his cousin the prospect of a game with him was appealing. When she had arrived she had given the small parcel of gift to a footman with instructions to present it to his master in private - she didn't mention it, unsure if, in the excitement of the party it would have exhanged hands just yet. If not, then it would make for an amusing discovery from his footman later - she hoped he would find it amusing at least. No gift for him, but one for his owl.

One of her slender jet eyebrows rose slightly.'I have no intention of being sore Mister Foxwood, as I have no intention of losing' she teased right back, the game aligning to them, and as she had chosen white, with a wave of her hand she directed her king side bishops pawn to move forward in the first move.

'How is Merlin this afternoon?' she asked, 'I expected to see him reigning over the party, atop your shoulder perhaps.' Suki added with a small smile,

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Gin made something stunning

Atticus and Miss Mountbatton had fallen into a semblance of easy friendship over the past month, and he was pleased to she had accepted an invitation to this event. “Well, Miss Mountbatton, I was a chess champion at Hogwarts.” His corner of his lips quipped into a smile as he watched her make her first move; it was one of the most aggressive opening moves for white. “Although I can see you’ve come to play. Perhaps we should make a bet?” Atticus flicked his gaze up to her for a moment. He had a prize in mind he wanted from her, although he hoped she would accept a dance later in the evening, win or lose.

His lips pressed together as he considered his options, although moments later his black moved to begin a Dutch Defense against her pieces. Atticus laughed then, his eyes drawn toward the house before he glanced back at her. A footman had appeared earlier to tell him of the gifts, and his owl had been on the pillows before Atticus could even say they were his. “He is enjoying his new silk pillows, so I am afraid I am second best to him right now. Thank you for that, and the treats. I’m not sure Merlin will ever leave the house now.” Of course a traditional thank you card would follow, but it had been thoughtful to bring something for his beloved owl.

“And how is Sakura?” He paused before adding, “It would be rude of me not to ask about Yuki, Adzuki and Taiyo as well.”

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@"Natsuko Mountbatton"

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Natsuko was pleased that the gift had gone down well, she had assumed that if Mister Foxwood had wanted his birthday acknowledged the garden party would have been billed as his birthday party - the fact that it wasn't made the gift to the owl a safer bet - a birthday gift that wasn't a birthday gift- a gift by proxy.  

'my little cadre are all very well, and I'm most impressed you remembered their names' she acknowledged, actually and genuinely impressed. Some English people struggled to remember her 'ethnic' name, and so anyone remembering her pet names was actually incredibly impressive.  

Natsukos eyebrow rose in curiosity, a bet.  Intriguing.  

Suki had no baseline for the skill with which the Hogwaets chess champion was crowned but she would never claim herself to be a champion.   She enjoyed chess, and was a decent player enough to put up something of a challenge but her schools focus had naturally been Go, rather than its Western counter part.  'I'm never one to back down a challenge Mister Foxwood,' she smiled, and moved her next piece, 'what bet did you have in mind?  her dark eyes flicked from the board qnd her new moved Knight to the gentleman before her.  

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Atticus Foxwood

  

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Gin made something stunning

A grin spread over his lips before he nodded at her. “It’s only fair to learn their names if I’m going to meet them one day. I couldn’t charm Sakura if I wasn’t even aware of her name.” Atticus had taken some time to commit them to memory, even going as far as to jot them down as soon as his waltz with Miss Mountbatton had ended.

He raised an eyebrow at her, before leaning back slightly in his chair to watch her next move. “Nothing detrimental. I would never dream of putting a young lady’s reputation at risk for anything.” Atticus leaned forward once her knight moved to access his own pieces before he raised his eyes to look at her. “If I win, Miss Mountbatton, I would like for you to accompany me for the first dance this evening. Just you and me to whatever music your heart desires. And the second dance can be opened to everyone else.” It was another bold move; if she said no he wouldn’t hold it against her.

He flicked his hand, one of the chess pieces rattling forward a moment later. “And if you win, you may ask anything reasonable of me and I will not say no.” Atticus smiled gently at her. “Please don’t feel like you have to take it.”

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@"Natsuko Mountbatton"

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   Poppy Dashwood

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She smiled at him brightly, 'Sakura is indeed most discerning and would be inclined to hold it against you for life.' Natsuko laughed brightly as the game proceded, and with the exception of her agressive beginning she was already on a back foot from a strategy perspective.

The bet was indeed a curious suggestions, and as she moved her piece her dark eyes met his equally dark ones, although she noted a ring of a colour she could only describe as honey amber that rimmed his gaze. 'I'm never likely to turn down a challenge sir.' her lips quirked into a smile, and after a moment of teasing consideration of his proposition - the terms incongruous enough.

It was an honor certainly to open the evenings proceedings with Mister Foxwood, but nothing scandalous or damaging in it, and the prospect of being able to ask him for some favour or other, not that she could think of what that might be at this moment had it's attractions. Her thoughts betrayed her a little and she had a niggling thought that she just couldn't shake but was trying very hard to ignore.

'Your terms are acceptable Mister Foxwood' she said all the same and extended a pale hand to shake his, formalising the accord between them, even as her bishop was taken by a knight errant. Her eyes narrowed at the pieces, as though it was they and not her lack of skill that was betraying her. She did certainly not mind joining Mister Foxwood for a dance, but that didn't mean she liked the idea of losing!

She took made another move, castling her king in an attempt to stop her board bleed. 'And is there a reason Mister Foxwood' she asked gently, 'that we are all pretending it's not your birthday?'

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Gin made something stunning

Atticus laughed. He knew owls well, and if Sakura was anything like Merlin, she would hold a grudge against him for the rest of his life. His own owl would take her side because he was brat, and scops owls had to stick together.

He reached forward and took her hand in his hand to give it a firm shake, sealing their bet; he wondered if she won what she would ask of him, but he didn’t have any intentions of losing. “I look forward to our game then.” He hummed quietly as one of her pieces took a pawn. Well that wasn't a fine start.

He paused at her question; it wasn’t prying, more curious than anything. She had been the first to ask it aloud and he couldn’t help but wonder how many others were thinking the same. Atticus cleared his throat. “My brother and I had a slight disagreement, and he told me that he wouldn't come to celebrate with me.” Atticus kept his gaze on Miss Mountbatton, although he wanted to look around his Basil. He’d last seen him with their cousin Tillie, playing checkers; even if he was reluctant to be here, he’d been smiling, happy to be amongst his family. “So, I decided if I didn’t celebrate and put his name as a host beside mine, he would be more likely to come.” He nervously tapped his fingers against the edge of the chess board and frowned. It was a family matter and he didn’t tend to speak with those he wasn’t related to, but he trusted her not to spread gossip. (Not that it wasn’t already known that sometimes he and Basil bickered over a lot of things.)

He continued, then, as he held her gaze. “We do not always see eye to eye but I would do almost anything for him, even if that means pretending today is not my birthday.” A slight smile quipped at the edges of his lips, replacing the frown he’d had moments ago. “Basil is here, so I think my not-birthday is turning out to be successful.” He had every intention of apologizing to Basil too.

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@"Natsuko Mountbatton"

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   Basil Foxwood

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Natsuko's eyes flashed with a mixture of sympathy and amusement, but was aware from his tone that she was being allowed into information that was deeply personal to the Foxwood family. Not that it was entirely news to her, she had heard from both Poppy, and independently from Ida that the relationship between the brothers could, at times, be a little strained. Having not met the younger Mister Foxwood she could make no assessment of his character or why indeed the brothers might be at logger heads. Poppy sang the praises of Atticus, while Ida sang Basils, if both brothers were the paragons their respective cheering sections claimed then it could be hard to imagine two such agreeable gentlemen having anything to argue about.

But then, she was aware that there were relationships between siblings that differed to those between other society friends. It must have been a strange experience to have people with whom one could fight and argue but end up friends again, or argue but then still make arrangements to ensure they attended your party. She couldn't think of a scenario in any other part of life where that would be the case.

Natsuko was not a gossip, not even the usual fussing that was almost an expected part of the business of debutantes in the ton. Either she was keeping the business of friends to herself as seemed only appropriate for those to whom one was loyal, or it was information of value, in which case a good General knew better than to share battle plans with the enemy. This certainly fell into the former category.

'That was... she struggled for the right word in English, 'kind of you', there was a word in Japanese, but kind felt easier than a lengthy explanation of kokoro in as close to an English explanation as she could find. 'I mean,' she clarified, 'To ensure he was here and could share the day, but not to force his pride. It was kind of you' It was clumsy, but got there- or close enough.


The decision to ignore the birthday had definitely been a pointed affair and uncomfortable with the prospect of ignoring such a social elephant in the room Suki had bought the unbirthday gift for Merlin. 'I suppose I ought to wish you many Happy Returns Mister Foxwood,' she said with a small smile. 'Birthdays are not celebrated like this in Japan, it is a tradition I am still getting used to.' she laughed lightly, inspite of her remaining rook being dispatched by a lowly pawn. 'So if I have forgotten any important parts you should feel free to correct me, I'd never want to give you offense.'

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   Basil Foxwood

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Gin made something stunning

Atticus chuckled quietly as he offered Miss Mountbatton a smile. He wasn’t sure Basil would consider him kind in regard at the moment, but he did have every intention of apologizing to his brother tonight for their fight. Their relationship the past few years had been turmoil at best and he missed having a brotherly bond with his brother. “If you were to ask him, I force him to do a lot of things.” He laughed again and shook his head.

“Happy Returns,” Atticus parroted back to her. “I like the sound of that better than happy birthday.” She laughed then and Atticus rested his chin against his hand as he watched her; he liked it when she laughed. It was a nice sound, gentle and beautiful; he looked away from her as his knight slid forward.. “I’m afraid you are absolutely divine, so I don’t think there’s anything you could do to cause offense to anyone.” He hummed and leaned back before he looked at her; he didn’t know much about her, and Atticus wanted to change that.

He regarded her with interest as he spoke. “When is your birthday, Miss Mountbatton?” While he wasn't sure what the Japanese birthday traditions were, he would definitely read up on them.

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@"Natsuko Mountbatton"

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   Basil Foxwood, Natsuko Foxwood

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Natsuko was ill equipped to make any sort of judgement on the behaviour of siblings. But she was curious to meet this other foxwood and take his measure against his elder sibling, comparing him in the accounts of her friends to determine, for herself, where the truth of the matter lay. Perhaps she would be better equipped later in the day to provide some additional commentary, but gave a responding chortle and a sympathetic expression.

Natsuko's eyes narrowed as she observed the board in a look that amounted to betrayal. Her side was suddenly looking rather scant of pieces. A rook, a knight, her queen, a bishop and a handful of pawns were all the remained to her, and although her king was still castled and ostensibly defended by a pawn and her remaining rook, the viable plays remaining to her were rapidly running short. She worried her lip with her teeth and took in the board space.

Her silent chastisement of the inefficacy of her pieces battle prowess was interrupted by his next comment, She had just reached out to move her next piece and she paused for a second in mid air as her eyes snapped up to meet his, and caused her breath to catch a little in her throat. She couldn't help the blush that stole up her neck and coloured her cheeks. Before she quickly cast her eyes back to the game again. The pace of her pulse hastened a little in her veins. The casual way he mentioned it, his attention on the game and his pieces, made her wonder if he had even realized he had said it.

She cleared her throat as he proceeded to his question and with a steadying breath that she hoped he hadn't noticed, and gave the date in Japanese, mostly to see the humorous reaction. The years and months were different, including the year with reference to the Emperor Meiji* rather than Christ, as the English did, but she took pity on him, in spite of her teasing. 'September 8th' she amused herself at his expense. 'It is a little different in Japan, no one in Mahoutokoro much follows the British traditions, and there is no reason for anyone here to much bother with it.' the explanation to assure him she wasn't meaning her jest cruelly, only enjoying this victory, even as she was set up, almost certainly, to lose the chessmatch. 'There is no such thing as a 'birthday party' in Japan, everyone celebrates their aging together at the new year' she gave a small diffident shrug. 'Having an entire day dedicated to ones birth must be an interesting feeling' she chuckled, and then added, with a smile and a nodding incline of her head, 'Even if one is forebearing it, to ensure one can spend time with a sibling.'

She moved her knight and wrinkled her nose, realising it was the wrong move the second she had taken her fingers from the mounted soliders head. 'If this is truly your birthday Mister Foxwood, I shall owe you a gift, with Merlin benefiting of the first I should never like it to be said that I was not living up to all appropriate social standards.'

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*I tried to work it out but got as far as Emporer Meiji and then it got REALLY complicated and I gave up - cant find a converter, so assume she explained it. XD

Atticus Foxwood

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   Atticus Foxwood, Basil Foxwood

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Gin made something stunning

Their eyes met and Atticus grinned at her; he hadn’t meant to embarrass her, but watching a slight blush spread across her cheeks was worth it. His eyes flicked back down to the board before him as he considered his options. Her king was protected, as was his, although he would go to great lengths to win an opening dance with her. His lips pursed together as he ran some moves through his head, causing him to take a moment to answer her. He reached forward and moved one of his knights closer; his goal was to corner her pieces and force her hand.

A laugh escaped him as she gave a date he wasn’t familiar with. “September eighth. That’s coming up,” he mused, although he assumed from her explanation that she wouldn’t be celebrating her birthday. Maybe he could talk Poppy into surprising something for her, even if it was small. Miss Mountbatton deserved to celebrate her birthday the English way, if she wished. Even if it was just once. “That sounds like an interesting concept, celebrating your birthday on New Years. This year, with your permission, we shall host a ball in your honor.” It was strange to offer such a thing, especially something so far away.

He glanced up and smiled at her. “If you enjoy being the center of attention, it’s not too bad. I’m not too keen on hosting events because I don’t have an eye for detail.” He shook his head, Mama Foxwood and Poppy had put together most of the details after Atticus had given them a theme - it had been more a joke but they had run with it. “But I hope in the future this property will be used for far more events.” If his wife wanted to be a socialite, he would be happy with it. Parties, teas, any event she could think of he would glad to help host - as long as she took care of the details.

He hummed quietly at her mistake. “Miss Mountbatton, your gift to me shall be the first dance tonight, because I do not think you’re going to win.” Atticus smirked at her as he moved his pawn to capture her knight.

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@"Natsuko Mountbatton"

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She could feel her shoulders relax, felt them drop from their position of ladylike affectedness to something like relaxed. Natsuko’s large dark eyes widened and her mouth forming into a soft little ‘o’, at his suggestion. She had never had a birthday party before, never. Her aunt had always been a little uncomfortable with her gaurdianship duties of Natsuko, and as Natsuko never mentioned her birthday, her aunt had never felt the need to mention it either. As she had stayed at school for most holidays she had celebrated the new year and everything that had entailed there, with school mates, but never a true birthday.

Her eyes fluttered downwards to the board, the match forgotten as she smiled inordinantly pleased at the offer, in a way that was not at all ladylike demurement and very much all real delight. They were such a generous and kind family, all of them – the Foxwoods and the Dashwoods, the sort of people who were warm and giving by their nature , they were born to wealth and so giving was easy and carefree, but Natsuko rather thought that even if they had had nothing, by their very natures, even if their hands had been empty they would have given of their warmth and their friendship, and sometimes those things were better than any material gift a person could give.

Whoever joined them as the future Mrs Foxwood would be lucky indeed to be part of such warmth, she hoped they deserved it, hoped they were as warm and giving as the rest. She could hardly admit to herself that she hoped it was her, but she liked to think herself generous enough of spirit to hope that whomever succeeded in Poppy’s plan to marry her cousin, would truly be worthy of them.

’I hope I am honoured to attend’ she said, in want of something else to say to his discussion of his hope for the future uses of his home, yes, certainly she wouldn’t mind spending more time in so beautiful and idyllic a place, with people she was coming to like rather a great deal. ’Although I admit, she continued, biting her lip, her brow furrowed as she took in the board, ’That I shall perhaps not be coming to the inaugeral Foxwood chess tournament’ Natsuko conceeded, nodding to her king who, made a rather good show of commiting sepeku, spearing himself on his own sword and conceeding the match to the black pieces who had surrounded him, as the remaining rook and pawn looked on.

She laughed and offered her hands once again across the board, ’good game sir, I conceed, you are indeed the winner of our bet.’’

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   Atticus Foxwood

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Gin made something stunning

Miss Mountbatton was someone he felt he could converse with forever; she was elegant and carried herself as any upper class woman should, but at the same time wasn’t emotionless and put on a facade he’d seen from many others. His family liked her as far as he could tell from their conversations, although he was sure Poppy adored her most of all. Now he could see why his cousin had wanted to introduce them. She smiled then, and it was brighter than the sun could ever hope to be; Atticus’ own lips quipped into a grin although he didn’t comment further on it.

“You will always have an invitation as long as you want one.” He hummed. Atticus would send Merlin with a personal invitation, although his tiny, rotund owl was much slower with mail nowadays. (It was Basil’s fault for continually overfeeding him food scraps and had absolutely nothing to do with how much Atticus spoiled him with treats.) His eyes were drawn toward the board and he couldn’t help but chuckle. “You were a very formidable opponent, Miss Mountbatton. If you have any skill at croquet, my dear cousin Anthony deserves to lose a game or two. And I would very much like to watch him lose.” He teased. Anthony had won several games the past few years and it was time for someone to knock him down a peg so he’d stop gloating about being the best croquet player in the family. Atticus was the worst, but everyone said that bit about him behind his back.

Reaching forward, he accepted her hand. “A very good game. Thank you for indulging me. I look forward to our dance tonight, Miss Mountbatton. Think of which song you’d like to be played, and I will pass along the message.” And then he smiled at her like she was the only person he truly wanted to see tonight.

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@"Natsuko Mountbatton"

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   Natsuko Foxwood

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’I’m not sure how my croquet stacks up against my chess,’ she laughed, ’Given that you’ve bested me so easily I shall have to rebaseline my skill against yours and that of your family.’, but of course she wasn’t adverse to another game with another member of the large extended clan that seemed to take so much pleasure in each other’s company.

’and I too Mister Foxwood, and I shall give it some thought, however as the winner you are being very gracious by conceding this selection to me.’ she said, with a small inclination of her head and a genuinely mirthful smile. She would need to think on which song would suit for their first dance. She had rather enjoyed their first waltz, and it seemed appropriate, but the intimacy of the traditional waltz might be a little toomuch too open a ball, especially when numbers were so few. The diagonal waltz, with it’s slightly livelier tune felt less obviously romantic, and she wouldnt want to give the gossips an opportunity to accuse of her being mercenary or obvious.

The warmth of his hand through the material of the gloves and the second too long their fingers touched made her stomach clench painfully. Her pulse quickened at his warm beaming smile, and Natsuko Mountbatton was worried that she was in rather a great deal of danger from Mister Foxwoods smile and those dark whiskey amber eyes.

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Gin made something stunning

Atticus laughed quietly before he leaned forward. “Well, Miss Mountbatton, Poppy has taken it upon herself this year to win against Anthony-” More like crush him into the ground and if there were tears from him it would only be an added bonus for her, but even Atticus knew better than to mention that small detail. “So I’m sure she would be glad to help you determine your skill level, if you were interested. I’m sure you’d be better than me.” He shrugged then, finding very little reason to lie to her. Plus if she did find his dear cousin there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that one of the first thing’s out of Poppy’s mouth would be attesting to how awful his croquet skills were.

“My prize is to dance with you. The song doesn’t matter, in the end.” You could pick any song in the world, or even ask that our guests sing instead of having the band play, and I’m certain there is nowhere else I’d rather be. They seemed like too much to say, so instead he just smiled at her and stood from his seat. “Until tonight, Miss Mountbatton. I hope you enjoy the rest of the afternoon.”

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@"Natsuko Mountbatton"

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